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Making It Legal

2012-05-11T15:38:23Z

Rachelle and Matt's marriage license signed by officiant, Damian King, in Columbus Ohio

I love this photo taken by a friend of Rachelle and Matt after their wedding. I felt fortunate to be the wedding officiant for this dedicated couple as they became husband and wife that day in Columbus, Ohio.

Signing the marriage license is the last step of the process. The couple's marriage certificate is signed and filed with the county, and then the probate court certifies the marriage on the county records. Then the couple can request their "marriage abstract", which is the document that says they are married. The marriage abstract is the document that a new wife presents to the Social Security Administration for her name change.

For more information about applying for and certifying your marriage in Franklin County, follow this link to the Franklin County Probate Court - Marriage License Department. They have some great information there that couples find very helpful.

Thanks for visiting my website and have a great day!

Beautiful wedding venue - The Columbus Athenaeum in Ohio

2012-04-20T18:07:48Z

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Athenaeum in downtown Columbus, Ohio where many outstanding weddings are held. As an officiant, I have the honor of celebrating with many brides and grooms at this very tasteful and busy venue. The staff always amazes me, because sometimes they are holding 4 weddings at the same time! Talk about the need to coordinate! But they manage all the details so well and consistently provide their brides and grooms with outstanding service in a setting that is filled with beauty and charm. Oh, by the way...the food is fantastic! Wait until you try their meatballs.

Banner outside the Athenaeum wedding venue in downtown Columbus, OhioHere is a shot of the outside of the venue. It can be deceiving because the inside is incredible.

An outside look at the Athenaeum wedding venue in Columbus, OhioIn this next shot I am with Gina Cristofani, Sales and Event Manager, and we are in the Priory discussing some wedding details. It was a fun visit and Gina does a great job as she has to coordinate many things to make the wedding day experience come together as it should. The entire staff runs like clockwork.

Gina Cristofani and officiant, Damian King, discuss wedding details in Columbus, Ohio, in the Priory.Here you can see some of the incredible architecture inside the Priory within the walls of this 1896 structure.

Beautiful architecture in the Priory at the Columbus Athenaeum wedding venueHere is a look from just outside the Priory.

A look from outside the Priory at the Columbus Athenaeum - Gina and Damian continue their chat.Open Prism Photography took this shot along the way while we were there. I thought it looked pretty cool.

An image from the Small Theater in the Columbus Athenaeum, wedding venue in OhioHere is a quick look at the Macedonian Room.

The Macedonian Room at the Athenaeum wedding venue in Columbus, OhioThe Small Theater is another amazing location for both weddings and receptions, or both. I did not know this photo was taken...

A look from above at the Columbus Athenaeum's Small TheaterI felt that this lamp base was a fitting sign for a place where so many brides and grooms commit to a lifetime of love as they become husband and wife.

"A Place for Love" - Heart shaped lamp base at the Columbus Athenaeum wedding venue in Ohio.The photographs in this entry are courtesy of Open Prism Photography and the work of Rebekah King. Feel free to visit their website at the link provided. You can call or email Rebekah for more information at 614-653-9082 or openprismphotography@gmail.com.

I enjoyed my visit to the Columbus Athenauem venue in Ohio, and I look forward to serving as wedding officiant for many more happy brides and grooms. Thanks for stopping by my website!

OneWed "Golden Feather Award" 2012 - Thank You!

2012-04-15T18:46:13Z

We are so grateful to the wonderful brides and grooms we have the pleasure of serving as their wedding officiant in and near Columbus, Ohio. Because of you, United Marriage Services, LLC has been awarded the OneWed "Golden Feather Award" for 2012!

This reflects that we are in the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide. The annual, OneWed "Golden Feather Awards" were formerly know as OneWed’s “Best Of Awards” and recognize the top wedding professionals from the OneWed Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the OneWed "Golden Feather Awards" are determined solely by the reviews from over 1.2 million newly married brides and grooms.

Thank you so much for your kindness and appreciation that had made this honor possible!

You can find out more by visiting our listing on OneWed. Thank you, again!

Wedding Day Dream - Brenda & Clint at Darby House

2012-03-11T19:24:02Z

I was so glad that Brenda & Clint asked me to celebrate with them as their wedding officiant. They chose the beautiful Darby House in Columbus, Ohio as their location. It is easy to enjoy this first photo with Brenda and Clint's look of delight as they gaze upon each other on this very special day.

Brenda and Clint enjoying a fun moment, together with their wedding officiant, in greater Columbus, Ohio, at Darby House.A tender kiss for the bride and groom, now pronounced "husband and wife". They love each other like no one else and it shows!

"You may kiss the bride!" Brenda and Clint's wedding ceremony in Columbus, Ohio.Two very lovely and sweet flower girls make their appearance and add the touch of flower petals to the ceremony location. These little ladies clearly have the attention of the guests!

The aisle was laced with rose petals... In order to personalize their ceremony for them, I had the honor of sharing a few thoughts with the guests. Here is one of those thoughts - "We initially bonded over our similar taste in music and have attended many concerts together. Our relationship was very easy right from the start – no games, no dishonesty – completely natural."

Tender moments like these are never forgotten. I am going to let these last 4 special images of Brenda & Clint's wedding day speak for themselves.

"How can we make this moment last?" Brenda & Clint at Darby HouseBrenda & Clint after their wedding ceremony at Darby House in Columbus, Ohio"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you..."

"Let's dance this moment into the future." "I am so grateful to have found you."Azar Photography and the fine work of Andriy were responsible for the images in this entry. Please contact Andriy at the link provided or by calling 614-218-2103 or emailing azarphotography@hotmail.com.

Brenda's wedding dress was provided by David's Bridal. Their music was provided by Encore Entertainment and Trent Iguchi. Their caterer was Cameron Mitchell Catering. Flowers were by Bloomtastic and their wedding cake was by Cakes by Cecile, Columbus, Ohio.

Brenda and Clint it was such a pleasure to celebrate with you as your wedding officiant! May all your years be filled with peace and happiness!

Danielle & Bill at Brookshire in Delaware!

2012-02-19T00:27:22Z

Bill and Danielle asked me to be their officiant for their wedding celebration at Brookshire Premiere Event Facility near Columbus, Ohio. Brookshire sits off Route 23 about 8 miles north of I-270 in Delaware, Ohio. In this photo below I am posing with this happy couple. Danielle and Bill have a true sense of humor and also are some of the most caring people with whom I have had the pleasure to celebrate.

Wedding officiant, Damian King of Columbus Ohio stands with Danielle & Bill after their ceremony at Brookshire in Delaware. Their sand ceremony was distinctly unique. You see, this bride and groom are soldiers serving the USA and living to protect our freedoms. They obtained the grounding layer of sand from Omaha Beach on the shores of Normandy, France. If you have seen Steven Spielberg's movie "Saving Private Ryan" you have experienced a depiction of the devastation that took place on Omaha Beach, and the profound loss of lives endured when Americans began to liberate Europe from the Germans. So this grounding layer was extraordinary.

Danielle & Bill's beautiful sand ceremony after their wedding at Brookshire Premiere Event Facility near Columbus, Ohio.In this photo we were discussing just how special their own sand ceremony was and as we contemplated how fortunate we are to have men and women who are willing to live to defend the cause of freedom. They were both so humble about their own service to our country.

Wedding Officiant, Damian King, reflects with Danielle & Bill about their sand ceremony at Brookshire near Columbus, Ohio. This was a touching day in so many ways. I was very happy to have been able to celebrate with these two very special people.

Photos in this entry were provided by Missy Gray. Missi does not have a website yet but her email address is missibsu@yahoo.com

Danielle and Bill, I wish you all the best in your years together as husband and wife!

Thanks for the privilege of celebrating with you as your officiant on your wedding day in Columbus Ohio!

Bride's Choice Award 2012 - 2nd Straight Year. Thank You!

2012-02-10T01:21:40Z

{Columbus,OH} – February 9, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce United Marriage Services LLC has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Officiant!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, United Marriage Services LLC was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

United Marriage Services LLC is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate United Marriage Services LLC for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that United Marriage Services LLC is one of the very best Officiants within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

To learn more about the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Another Beautiful Wedding at Franklin Park Conservatory

2012-01-15T20:36:23Z

As the wedding officiant for Jessica and Daniel, I was honored to celebrate with this bride and groom. We were in Columbus, Ohio, and it was time to sign the marriage license at Franklin Park Conservatory on their big day. It was fabulous weather and a wonderful moment. I love Jessica and Daniel's expressions as they both look on at the signing. You can tell that this bride and groom are meant for each other.

Wedding officiant, Damian King, in Columbus, Ohio, signing Jessica and Daniel's marriage license at Franklin Park Conservatory.Here is a close up view of the marriage license as their wedding photographer, Comfort Witcher, captures the image.

License obtained from Marriage License Department - Probate Court, Franklin County, Ohio In this photograph Jessica and I were looking together at her marriage license. She is so happy that this day has come and we were enjoying the fact that she and Daniel are now married.

Jessica and Damian view the marriage license of the bride and groom at Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OhioThe happy groom - Here is a great shot of Daniel as he stands with joy and anticipation as his lovely bride will be approaching soon. Daniel, a groom filled with joy, awaits his bride with wedding officiant, Damian King, at Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OhioI found this couple to be very kind and sweet. When they were together I was able to feel their love for each other and for other people, too. I was happy to celebrate with Jessica and Daniel on the beautiful day they became husband and wife.

Bride and groom, Jessica and Daniel with wedding officiant, Damian King, at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, OhioAll photos in this entry are courtesy of Comfort Witcher and Comfort Photography. She does fantastic work as you can see from the images posted here. You can view more of her fine work at by following the link provided. Comfort's email and phone number are comfort@comfortphotography.com and 614-668-7609.

The DJ for their wedding was Dan Green of Encore Entertainment.

Ali Goldschmidt was the wedding event lady for Franklin Park Conservatory. Ali does a tremendous job and is very caring and attentive. I was glad to be on the same team with her that day.

Jessica and Daniel, your Columbus wedding was wonderful! Thanks again for inviting me to be a part of your day and to serve as your officiant. I wish you all the best and many happy years together!

Time to sign The Marriage License - Genevieve & Max

2012-01-06T21:49:57Z

It was a beautiful fall day in Columbus, Ohio where I was the wedding officiant for Genevieve and Max. Here I sign their marriage license as they celebrate their love at North Bank Park, near downtown.

Wedding officiant, Damian King, signs marriage license for Genevieve and Max in Columbus, Ohio at North Bank ParkThe weather was amazing on that early October day in 2011. This devoted couple wrote personal vows for each other, followed by traditional repeat vows at their ring exchange. There were a few tears shed...tears of joy and the wonder of love. It was beautiful.

Genevieve and Max's wedding. Damian King, officiant, poses with happy bride and groom at North Bank Park in Columbus, Ohio.These amazing photographs were provided by Tiarra Howell (Tia) of Agape Photography. Please visit her website by following the link provided. You can also reach Tia by email at info@agapephotographs.com or by phone by calling 614-425-1121.

Tommy Nutter of Diamond Entertainment provided the music for their wedding celebration.

Genevieve and Max, I wish you many happy years together! Thanks again, for inviting me to be your officiant at your beautiful wedding in Columbus, Ohio.

Love, children, & weddings - Kendra and Nathan at Franklin Park Conservatory

2011-12-18T18:37:56Z

The pleasure of being invited by brides and grooms to be the officiant at their wedding involves many things. We were at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, and on Kendra and Nathan's special day, their flower girl and ring bearer brought smiles and joy. Cute beyond words, the photo of these two special children below is one that can be looked at often and again.

Precious children at Kendra and Nathan's wedding at Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus Ohio.I really felt that I wanted to include this photo of Kendra because it is unique and intriguing. It holds an unspoken depth. Now let's look at some of their ceremony...

Bride in a stunning photo. Kendra at Franklin Park Conservatory.All the guests were distracted by the all-out "cuteness" of this ring bearer and flower girl.

Flower girl and ring bearer begin their walk down the aisle at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus Ohio. "Let's really feel these petals. This is so much fun!"

Wedding at Franklin Park Conservatory. Kendra and Nathan's flower girl enjoying every moment.Here we are in the Brides Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory. The bride and groom now Mr. and Mrs.! Let's hear a little of what was in their ceremony..."Kendra and Nathan met 5 years ago at Ohio University. They both knew from the very beginning of their friendship that something great was going to happen between them, but were too afraid to admit it to each other. Well obviously, they got over those fears and that is why we are celebrating here, with them today."

Newly married couple, Kendra and Nathan in Columbus, Ohio. Wedding officiant, Damian King applauds with guests.I am very happy for Nathan and Kendra. Here we are in front of the south doors that open for events.

Nathan, Kendra, and wedding officiant, Damian King, in Columbus, Ohio at Franklin Park ConservatorySweet moment with groom and bride. Again, a unique photo. Their photographer took many shots with a not-so-common flair.

Newlyweds, Nathan and Kendra, after their wedding ceremony at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, OhioHere she is again. Flower girl personified.

This flower girl brings sunshine to any day. Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, Ohio. And lastly, an awesomely sweet shot of bride, Kendra, with her flower girl. Like most in this entry, this photo speaks by itself.

Bride, Kendra, with bouquet and flower girl - Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OhioAll photographs in this entry are courtesy of Suzanne Pyle of Suzanne Pyle Photography (no website yet). Please contact Suzanne at her phone number by calling 740-443-6006.

I had the pleasure of working with Andrea Bannan at Franklin Park Conservatory. She did (and does) a wonderful job making sure that all couples have a fantastic wedding experience.

Kendra and Nathan, I wish you every good blessing in your lives together! Thanks for asking me to be your officiant for your wedding day in Columbus, Ohio!

Sarah and Brent - Four Seasons Wedding Venue!

2011-12-08T01:02:41Z

It was another beautiful day in Columbus, Ohio. As the wedding officiant for Sarah and Brent on the day they were married at Four Seasons venue, it was my honor to share in some very precious moments in their lives. In the photograph below you can feel the rich glow of their love.Brent and Sarah enjoying a moment together at Four Seasons wedding venue in Columbus, Ohio. This bride is highly photogenic.Lovely bride on the day for which she has waited - Wedding in Hilliard, Ohio.This couple's family and friends were really enjoying this celebration. Here, Sarah stands with her father.Father of the bride with daughter. A moment to remember at Four Seasons wedding venue in Columbus, Ohio. Sarah and Brent have many ways to communicate with each other. Sometimes a look or a glance is enough. Let's listen in on their ceremony...."Would you like to have some fun?""As many of you know this beautiful couple was set up by Sarah’s mom, who had seen some potential in Brent & Sarah being together. In January of 2008, they had exchanged phone numbers and pictures and started dating right away and by the summer of 2009 they pretty much knew they were going to be married." Brent and Sarah also have a great sense of humor. They are always joking with each other and having fun, and they have some funny stories about their relationship. With words from their ceremony, before they were engaged..."They were together on a trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. While they were there in Gatlinburg she had noticed a Diamond Cellar bag among their belongings so what crossed Sarah’s mind when she saw this Diamond Cellar bag was (not that her engagement ring was in it - but that something completely different of Brent's)... was in it!" The story continues from there..."Let's hit the dance floor.""Later she came out onto the porch and there was a different expression on Brent’s face as it was unfolding before the two of them that this was the moment that he would propose to the one he loved." "I am glad I listened to you...this is fun."Some more humor - "Some of you may not know that on their first date Brent tried to get Sarah hypnotized on stage." Radiant beauty - "This is a celebration I will always remember.""And their first real vacation was a motorcycle ride….around lake Erie…packing in a saddle bag for a week!!"Wedding officiant, Damian King, signs marriage license in Columbus, Ohio, for Brent and Sarah at Four Seasons venue.But with all their humor and zest for life their dedication is very real as "Sarah wants to marry Brent because of his unique, positive, and strong personality. She is attracted to him, also, because of his caring, loving nature." And..."I am so happy to be making this journey with you.""Brent wants to marry Sarah because he finds her so beautiful; her personality, her smile, and her eyes. He also loves her sense of humor, her generosity, and her integrity as a person." Brent and Sarah with limousine waiting at Four Seasons wedding venue in Columbus Ohio."And ladies and gentleman this is why we are here today. To celebrate with Brent and Sarah the joyous love and devotion they share as today, they become united for all their days as husband and wife."

"Today our journey continues. On to our honeymoon."

The photographs in this entry are the fine work of Julie Linz of Julie Linz Photography. Please visit her website by following the link provided. Julie's email is j@julielinzphotography.com and her phone number is 866-730-8886.

Night Music DJ with Steve Ransom provided the music and Steve always does a fantastic job. Steve and his wife, Jodi Ransom, are members of Wedding Professionals of Columbus.

Judith and Enrico Margaroli are the owners of Four Seasons and they always provide outstanding and timely service to brides and grooms in the greater Columbus, Ohio area.

Sarah and Brent, I wish you the very best this life has to offer! Thanks again for inviting me to celebrate your wedding with you as your officiant. I enjoyed it immensely!